Building Cities for Pedestrians

Maisonneuve urban affairs critic Christopher DeWolf looks at Hong Kong's innovative pedestrianization program. With clear goals, different levels of pedestrianization and a flexible approach that is adapted to specific streets and neighbourhoods, Hong Kong's pedestrians-first project has a lot to teach Canadian cities, he argues.

"Hong Kong’s pedestrianization project works because it’s straightforward, assertive and, above all, flexible. In just five years, the transport department has revamped dozens of streets, aggressively using pedestrianization as a tool to promote walking and discourage driving. Most importantly, it doesn’t try to impose a one-size-fits-all model on the city, as planners on this side of the Pacific have often done. Hong Kong’s different levels of pedestrianization are designed with an ear tuned to the specific needs of different streets and neighbourhoods."

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